2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

Are you, the car enthusiast, braced for the latest round of the Toyota Camry, 2012 edition?

Whether or not you are, the auto fanboys’ favorite punching bag is reporting for duty. Detroit editor Todd Lassa went to great lengths highlighting what’s new for the 2012 Toyota Camry in his recent first drive, and one of the most conservatively refreshed vehicles in history is now fully prepped for mass consumption. You’ve seen, read about, and if our website views metrics system is working properly, gawked over Camry photos in impressive numbers. And today, we’re divulging how the modestly redone four- and six-cylinder sedans performed on test day.

Up first we had an LE four-cylinder, the sales volume king and one of Toyota‘s biggest coffer fillers. As it’s slightly more powerful and lighter than before, we expected the performance numbers to positively reflect the changes for the 2012 model year. For the most part, they did. The LE was certainly quicker, moving from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, shaving 0.6 second off the 2010 car that tamed six of its competitors in our last four-door midsize extravaganza. The LE pulled ahead in the quarter mile to the tune of 15.9 seconds at 89.3 mph, improving from the 16.4 seconds at 86.1 mph of the last car. Engaging the surprisingly stiff brake pedal from 60 mph hacks off 8 feet: 120 feet for the 2012 versus 2010’s 128 feet. The figure-eight time, on the other hand, suffers a teeny bit — 28.2 seconds at 0.60 average g for the 2012 model versus 28.0 at 0.58 average g. We can only deduce its low rolling resistance tires were the culprit (Michelin Energy Savers) for the figure eight.

The 2.5-liter inline-four shows up with 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, gaining 9 hp and 3 lb-ft. Also making its presence felt is a 3.634:1 final drive for the standard six-speed automatic, which turns out to be around 4.74 percent taller than last year. The numerically lower final drive is helping the engine turn at lesser revs for a given road speed (assuming all else such as individual gear ratios and tire size is equal) and clearly didn’t impede acceleration. With increased torque converter lockup, it has the fuel economy figures to back the switch too: 25/35 mpg city/highway vs. the outgoing model’s 22/32 mpg city/highway. For many Americans, and especially Camry loyalists, our 3165-pound LE tester is all they’ll ever want. Let’s face facts: A comfortable ride, non-threatening exterior and interior design, 10 standard airbags, and low maintenance demands will do sales wonders.

Looking to add some spice is the six-cylinder SE, kicking things to the next level with the same 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque offered before. The widely used 3.5-liter V-6 changes to a low-viscosity 0W-20 factory oil fill, cutting internal drag for greater efficiency. Again, swapping the final drive to 3.458:1 (6.16 percent taller than 2011) helps with fuel consumption, netting 21/30 mpg city/highway (+1 city/+1 highway mpg).

Even prior to our receiving a 2012 SE V-6, the six-cylinder Camry had a reputation for, shall we say, being downright respectable in a straight line. It didn’t disappoint: The SE took 5.8 seconds to go from 0-60 mph, with the automatic’s paddle shifters helping the cause. At 3370 pounds, it’s more than 200 pounds heavier than the four-cylinder LE, but completes the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds at 100.6 mph. As of now, this is the speediest Camry V-6 we’ve ever tested, also trumping other previous-generation models in the figure-eight with a 27.2-second run at 0.66 average g.

That’s not to say the SE V-6, with its 18-inch alloy wheels, stiffer springs, and more firmly damped shocks, sacrifices comfort. The overall ride setup remains relatively soft and body roll awaits, despite its limited sporting intentions. If you’re constantly sprinting from one destination to another, this may be the midsize sedan for you. But please refrain from calling it a sport sedan.

So ride quality favors the family, steering effort is light and loads linearly, fuel economy is up, and you’d be confident teaching your kids to drive in it. Even in the event it gets knocked from its bestselling perch, the subtly retouched Camry will have no trouble finding takers. And the Internet’s auto enthusiast population converges in 3…2…1.

We’ve Temporarily Removed Comments

As part of our ongoing efforts to make MotorTrend.com better, faster, and easier for you to use, we’ve temporarily removed comments as well as the ability to comment. We’re testing and reviewing options to possibly bring comments back. As always, thanks for reading MotorTrend.com.

Safety (NHTSA)

2012 Toyota Camry News and Reviews

The redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 2016 Kia Optima coming to the 2015 New York auto show are going to have some reinvigorated competition when they go on sale by the end of 2015. The 2016 model year could be huge for the still-hot midsize-sedan market, providing consumers a number of new or refreshed options -- or, alternatively, with some…

Ferrari may get all the fan mail and sell countless bedroom wall posters, but in the 66 years since its founding, the Italian automaker has sold just 130,000 cars. Total. Worldwide. Ever. Toyota, in comparison, sells roughly that many Camrys in the U.S. every five months. Honda's Accord and Nissan's Altima are close behind.Make no mistake: The humble sedans you…

The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord both passed the 30,000-unit mark for August, separating themselves from the midsize sedan pack. Otherwise, the midsizer standings are similar to those from last month expect for the Kia Optima and Chevy Malibu swapping places. The Optima, which found its way home to 13,949 customers, drops to seventh place and forfeits the number-six spot…

It's Labor Day weekend, and for many of you that means a nice, long road trip. To some, road trips are about the journey, while others just want to get there. After bathroom breaks, nothing stands in the way of progress more than having to fuel up. For those individuals who want the fewest stops at the pump during their…

This Labor Day weekend will be a special one for the Camry. Launching just in time for end-of-summer holiday is the 2012 Toyota Camry SE Sport Limited Edition. Will it be special enough?This model starts life as a Camry SE equipped with the four-cylinder engine, which is then augmented with a few bits from the more expensive V-6 trim. For…